So you've gone and gotten a consulate appointment?

[Ariduvenna 0]

You've managed to survive your medical (as per my earlier post) and finally the brand spanking shiny day has come. The day of your interview!!

Naturally you have spent the entire day beforehand sorting your items. I found it very comforting to have everything in clear plastic folders with a post it on top telling me what it is. Interviews at the consulate can be time consuming if you dont watch it so for your sake and everyone elses make sure you have everything within easy reach so you don't delay it any further.

Admittance is based on arrival time and level of people around. My appointment was at 13:30. I was outside at about 13:10 at which point a line had already formed. Be sure to either have someone with you to give your items to when you go inside or leave them in a locker. Anyone carrying electronic equipment or big bags will be moved to the back of the line in a second. So have a folder with all your papers (as listed in the package you received from the consulate) and your passport. Leave all other items outside with a loved one or in a locker.

The security guard started letting us in 3 at a time, your fellow applicants will appreciate you not being an ### so be sure to keep in mind who was ahead of you, who was behind and what your position is so you know when "next person" means you. At the start you are immediately put through a scanner. I was wearing boots and had to take them off. I could leave my rings on but I did have to lose a hairpin and my watch. Having gone through the scanner you pick up your stuff again and go through the little wooden knee-high door. You take an immediate right and sit in the waiting area near window 5.

Now window 5, 6 and 7 are "seperated" from the waiting room by nothing but a strip of glass with openings on both sides. Don't bother whispering or feeling embarressed, everyone will be able to hear everything you say. They'll start calling up Immigration applicants. Which means you! At the window there will be an employee asking you to hand over whichever files they consider appropriate for your case, in my case they were

- Passport

- 2 Pictures (identical to the ones you gave the doctor)

- Criminal records of New Zealand (spent a year there backpacking, did nothing wrong but they want to see evidence of a clean criminal record. They will have petitioned the Dutch goverment for the criminal records of the Netherlands by this time)

- I134 + supporting documents (these are the forms stating your fiance will be financially responsible for you)

- Birth certificate + copy

- € 7.70 in stamps. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. You cannot buy stamps there or give them cash. You will need to have stamps with you. I personally suggest buying a signed-delivery stamp ( http://www.postkantoor.nl/servicezegel-aangetekende-brief-0-2-kg-5x-1.html ) most loval postoffices will sell them per 1 (link is for 5). They do accept these. Otherwise you will have to buy 2 sheets of stamps to take with you.

After you have handed the appropriate files to the person behind the window they take your fingerprints and they ask you to take a seat again. After a while a second window will open and you will be called up to the second window. Here you will sign the statement on your I156 stating that all information provided by you is the truth. The employee will ask you to raise your right hand and swear this to be true as well. Feel free to be awesome and instead of just saying "I do so swear" elaborate with "*swearwords*" "by batman's left hairy testicle" or "By the power of greyskull" however I tend to treat consulate employees as I do airport personell. I assume they have no sense of humor and stick to the basics.

The employee then asks you some standard questions. These vary on your specific case and are meant to establish whether or not your intentions are honorable and true. My questions:

- Is Jon your fiance?

- Where are you getting married

- When are you getting married

- You driving up there or flying?

- Why did you change your name?

- When are you flying to America?

Very very basic stuff as you can tell. Don't overexplain due to nerves, don't wonder why he or she needs to know, don't question it. They have all your info anyway and you're so close now you can taste it! So just answer truthfully, tell him honestly when you haven't thought about a certain question yet and you'll be fine.

After this last round of questions the employee tells you a simple "thank you, your visa will be in the mail".... There is no way to pick up a visa so you'll have to wait for it (and your passport) to return to you. I got interviewed on Thursday afternoon. With my "aangetekende brief" stamp I was able to track and trace my passport as it was shipped Friday and arrived Saturday at 09:00AM. of course delivery may vary depending on a number of issues.

After an interview on the 30th of May I am now flying the 5th of June. Thanks for reading and good luck on the visa's guys!

[sofasonics 3]

congratulation!!

all the best for the future!

[cazzers 83]

Congrats!!!

[pluis 2]

Hey Ariduvenna,

I read both this topic and the one about the medical. Thanks for the informative write-up!

Seeing as that I'll have my interview soon, there is one thing I wanted to ask:

do you know if you really have to hand over identical passport photo's at the medical and at the interview? I've not heard of this requirement before, and it would actually cause me trouble.

When I began the whole process (CR-1, in my case) I had six passport photo's printed, of which I have (after the medical but before the interview) one left. My plan is to have new photo's taken (I'll need more in the US anyway..) and take the one old one and two of the new ones to the consulate with me.

Could you tell me if you think this will be problematic?

Thanks!

[Nona 1]

Thanks for the information, it's good to know what I can expect at the embassy in Amsterdam.

I've been there once before, and was wundering why people were sitting in that area. Now I know! Hopefully soon I will sit there to...

Congrats and all the best in the US!